Car-brake.



PATEN'I'ED MAR. 14, 1905.

' R. VOGEL.

GAR BRAKE.

APPLIOATION FILED NOV. 24, 1903.

UNITED STATES Patented March 14, 1905.

PATENT OFFICE.

CAR-BRAKE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 784,906, dated March 14, 1905.

Application filed November Z4, 1903. Serial No. 182,549.

K To all whom, it may concern:

Be it known that I, RALPH VOGEL, a citizen of the United States, residing' at Germantown, county of Philadelphia, and State of Pennsylvania, have invented a certain new and useful Improvement in Oar-Brakes, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to a new and useful improvement in car-brakes, and has' for its object to provide a brake which can be quickly applied and will stop the car within a short distance, and thereby be of great advantage as an emergency-brake.

With these ends in view this invention consists in the details of construction and combination of elements hereinafter set forth, andA then specifically designated by the claims.

In order that those skilled in the art to which this invention appertains may understand how to make and use the same, the construction and operation will now be described in detail, referring to the accompanying drawings, forming a part of this specification, in which- Figure 1 is a side elevation of a portion of a car equipped with my improved brake; Fig. 2, a side elevation of a portion of a truck with my brake in operation; Fig. 3, a section on the line 3 3 of Fig. 1; Fig. 4, a section on the line 4 4 of Fig. l.

A represents the car-body.

B represents the wheels of the two trucks located at each end of the car.

C represents sectional tracks arranged between the two trucks of the car and also forward and rearward of the trucks. These sectional tracks are normally suspended from the car and travel with the car a slight distance above the traction-rails; but when it is desired to stop the car within a short distance the sectional tracks forward of the trucks are lowered upon the rails, and as the end of the sectional tracks next to the wheels are beveled or inclined the wheels of the truck will run up upon the sectional track, and therefore the momentum of the car will be arrested very quickly. The rearward end of each sectional track is raised, as indicated at O', to prevent the wheels from running over that end of the track,and therefore after the car is resting entirely upon the sectional tracks any further momentum of the car will be arrested on account of the friction between the tracks and the rails. Each of the tracks is composed of a number of sections, the sections being' pivoted together, so that the tracks may bend horizontally. This is for the purpose of allowing the tracks to accommodate themselves to the curves in the road. The different sections of the tracks opposite one another are connected together by thebraces D, said braces being pivoted at each end to the opposite sections of the tracks, so that the opposite sections will move together parallel with one another.

Any means may be employed for raising and lowering the tracks; but the means shown in the drawings consists of vertical bars E, which are adapted to slide in vertical standards F, depending from the car. The lower ends of the bars E are bent at right angles to form the pins G, which enter eyes H, extending laterally from the end sections of the track. rPhe eyes H of each track are upon opposite sides, so that the forward eye will not strike the rearward bar when the car is passing upward upon the track. Any means may be employed for operating the bars E. rPhat shown in the drawings consist-s of asystem of sprocketwheel and chains I, said chains extending to both platforms of the car, where they may be operated by a suitable crank J. These chains are adapted to operate ratchet-wheels K, which mesh with ratchetteeth L, cut upon the bars E, and the chains are so connected that the tracks forward of the trucks will be operated from one platform and the other set of tracks will be operated from the other platform, so that the brakes may be applied no mattei' which way the car is traveling.

The operation of the device is as follows: By operating the proper crank J the tracks forward of the trucks will be lowered upon the main rails, and as the weight of these tracks will generate friction between themselves and the rail the pins Gr will pass forward out of the eyelets and then the wheels B of the truck will pass upward upon the tracks, and thus cause the car to come to a TOO standstill. In order to return the parts to their normal position, the car is backed until the wheels leave the tracks and again rest upon the main rails and then the pins H will enter the eyes upon the track and the track may be raised-by revolving' the crank J in the opposite direction.

M represents abutments, and normally the raised ends of the tracks lie ag'ainst or in close proximity to these abutments, so that in back" ing the car it is not necessary to stop the car at a precise moment, for the alnltmcnts will strike the tracks and push them along upon the rails, and therefore relieve the bars I4] of the strain. If, for instance, the car is stopped upon a curve, the car is then backed until all the tracks are on straight rails, as otherwise the eyes H would not be in proper position to pass upon the pins The under surfaces of the tracks C are so formed as to lit the rails and the upper surfaces of the tracks are identical with the upper surface of the main rails.

N represents posts extending downward from the car and suitably braced in both directions.

O represents lugs extending inward from the sectional tracks, and these lugs are adapted to comein contact with the lower end of the posts N when the sectional tracks are entirely underneath the wheels to prevent any liability of the wheels running over the upwardly-curved ends of said tracks.

l) represents tubes extending downward from the car, and when the sectional tracks are raised stnds'Q, carried by the tracks, are adapted to enter the lower end of said tubes, and thus prevent any liabilityof the tracks being accidentally displaced from the pins (Jr by the vibration of the ear.

Of course I do not wish to be limited to the exact construction here shown, as slig'ht modilications could be made without departing from the spirit of my invention.

Having thus fully described my invention, what I claim as new and useful isl. In combination with a car and car-wheels, sectional tracks arranged forward and rearward of the wheels, the ends of the sectional tracks next to the wheels being beveled, and the other ends of the sectional tracks being raised, means for normally suspending said tracks from the car a slight distance above the rails, means for raising and lowering the tracks, the means by which the tracks are automatically disengaged as the car moves forward, each track being' composed of a number of sections pivoted together so that the tracks may bend horizontally, braces securing each side of opposite sections together, as andfor the purpose specified.

2. In adevice of the character described, a car, car-wheels, main rail upon which the carwheels run, sectional tracks arranged forward and rearward of the wheels, the end of each track next tothe wheels being beveled, the other ends of the tracks being raised, each track being' composed of a number of sections pivoted together so as to bend horizontally, vertically-sliding bars, guideways depending' from the car in which said bars are adapted to slide, pins extending' at right angles from the lower end of the bars, eyelets extending from the side of the tracks in which said pins are adapted to normally lie, thereby suspending the tracks above the rail, means for raising' and lowering said bars from the platform of the car, as and for the purpose specified.

3. In a device of the character described` a car, car-wheels, and main rail upon which the car-wheels run, sectional tracks arranged forward and rearward of the wheels, the ends of the tracks next to the Wheels being' beveled, the other ends of the tracks being raised, each track being composed of a number of sections, the sections being pivoted tog'ether so that the track may be bent horizontally, eyes extending laterally from the end sections of the tracks, one eye upon one side and the other upon the other side, vertically-sliding bars, guideways depending' from the car in which said bars are adapted to slide, pins extending at right angles from the lower end of the bars and adapted to normally lie within the eyelets to suspend the tracks above the rails, abutments carried by the ear against which the raised ends of the tracks are ada1r ted to normally rest, means for raising and lowering the bars, cross-braces securing together the opposite sections of the tracks, as and for the purpose specified.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto afiixed my signature in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

RALPH VOGEL.

IVitIiesses:

CHAs. IV. LAUGHLIN, ELIAS H. ELsToN.

IOO 

